"Migrant Domestic Workers commemorates International Migrant's  Day"

Members and supporters of the Justice for Domestic Workers gathered in a full-packed Sunday to commemorate and  celebrate International  Migrant's and Christmas Day Event.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/12/20/12/uk-based-domestic-workers-share-stories-exploitation

J4DW and Unite the Union launch the 12<12 ILO Convention campaign for the Ratification of ILO C189

J4DW joins in solidarity and celebration of  "Our Day", Standing Together in for International Migrants Day

"Justice  for Domestic Workers Goes Surreal"

On the 25th of November 2012, Sunday as part of the Justice for Domestic Workers's  "Making  Domestic Work Visible to  the British Society", in  collaboration  with Unite  the Union, The Showroom and Tate Modern - London, the group of migrant domestic  workers in the UK took a trip of adventure and fun  to Poetry and Dreams exhibitions and installations by renowned surrealists  such  as Max Ernst and  Joan  Miro. It exhibits  the  diversion of contemporary art particularly to  the genre of  Surrealism and  the  exploration of some artists to different techniques/themes such as using biomorphic symbols and forms which have been extracted from  subconscious minds into bizarre representations.

Surrealism is a period in art history when artists  create dreamlike or absurd  paintings  filled with mysterious or familiar objects  that have been arranged or altered  in ways that you would not see in  the real  world.

The members  were toured around the gallery to be able to understand the  meaning of Surrealism, how the  artists incorporated these techniques with poetries and dreams and to  hear their  thoughts and views on  each of the selected masterpieces.

"The Entire City"

by: Max Ernst 1934

Oil on  Paper laid canvas

The Entire  City brings the viewer into thne realm  of  Max Ernst's mind and  provides a rare  glimpse at the artist's  gloomy state of  existence during the World War II, when Nazism took  over his home country Germany.

" I  like how rough it looks like.  Very Chaotic and heavy."

-Myrna Manlangit , J4DW

"Iron"

Man Ray 1963

A  humble flat iron transformed by the addition of a row of nails into new and potentially threatening objects. The  nails  and the evocation of hot metal suggest sadism or violent erotism ironically at odds with  the works  title.

"This attracts me  the most.  I saw my personality in this artwork and  it is related to my work as  a  migrant  domestic  worker. I make  contribution  though unrecognised like this iron at home Nails for me  symbolized my resistance to violence. I am  with armed with my knowledge and  rights."

- Dorotea Fabile,  J4DW

"The Voice of Freedom in the German night Wavelength 1937"

John Heartfield

Heartfield imagines the  raised fist of the  communist salute as a radio transmitter. The text  identifies the underground 'Radio station' leading the  clandestine 'struggle' for peace,  freedom  and democracy.

" I saw the struggles of  J4DW and  its fighting spirit to survive!"

- Rosita Salvador, J4DW

“WHY WE WORK TOGETHER”

 Ask! Actie Schonen Kunsten

Members of  the Justice  for Domestic Workers making a reverse graffiti art

Why we work together? Actie Schonen Kunsten is an asssociation of  cultural art workers making alliances with Migrant Domestic Workers who address the condition s  and  demands  of Domestic Work mainly in Netherlands. It is an assonating name using the traditional Dutch term for ‘fine arts’ which can also be read as ‘clean arts’. On the 28th of October 2012, Actie Schonen Kunsten (ASK) visited London in cooperation with The Showroom London and Justice for Domestic Workers – an organisation of multi national migrant domestic workers based in London. The Showroom’s Louise Shelley formally introduced the artists from the group ASK Netherlands who came for a reverse graffiti campaign with the J4DW. Binna Choi, the director of the  group who initiatively working together with Rogier Frederik Hendrik Delfros, a graphic artist and Marc Roig Blesa, visual artist started the open discussion by asking why we should work together? There were five reasons we tackled with them. Firstly, Domestic workers and artists are both dealing with aesthetics on a daily basis. Aesthetics in domestic labour doesn't mean of that beautiful design or looking nice and good. It is more of recognition and acknowledgement, constant questioning and (re) negotiation. As Domestic labour and workers are struggling with this invisibility, artists who are specialists with aesthetic works of art are now struggling with the invisibility of art. Artists and domestic workers contribute greatly in the society without being recognised and acknowledged. Hence, both have to break these mental barriers and work together in a new form of protest. Secondly, we, domestic workers and artists both demand recognition and respect for our work. We perform our living labour under conditions and precarity. Thirdly, we believe in domestic labour. Domestic work is the beginning and end of all labours. It is the source of economy and we should be the centre of reorganisation and challenge the current pattern. Next, we can learn from each other. Domestic workers can use media and art spaces as platforms. Working together with various artists from The Showroom and Tate Modern and credits for Monica Fabiola Cortazar, J4DW’s Art Adviser we developed a new way of approach to campaign. With Art, we believe each individual is an artist with a unique kind of creativity and resourcefulness that need to be brought into the outside world of domestic bondage. On the other hand, artists and curators can learn from the domestic workers’ organisational strategies and collectivism. Finally, we count on temporary alliances. As what the artists said, we cannot make a change if we just stay in our own respective worlds.

Together with ASK cultural art workers and with The Showroom, we Justice for Domestic Workers enjoyed the collaboration of strategic campaign and reverse graffiti campaign in “dirty” areas around The Showroom neighbourhood using isotopes, a work of art by Berlin artist Andreas Siekmann representing an ‘army’ of Domestic workers.

Army of Domestic Workers, image: Andreas Siekmann(Artist, Berlin)

J4DW would like to thank Unite the Union and Tate Modern for continuous support in making this project 'Making Domestic Work visible in British Society'.

    “EDUCATION and SKILLS for MIGRANT DOMESTIC WORKERS!”

Justice for Domestic Workers learning  Together!

“To provide education and skills to help Domestic Workers to be able to adapt to the new environment and cultural differences in the UK, to improve our quality of life.” - J4DW Objectives

On the 4^th of November 2012, the Justice for Domestic Workers and volunteers once again met at the Faraday House Old Gloucester Road, London for a very informative and fun learning. ESOL, ICT, ARTS classes which started at 11 in the morning began with a partial number of 37 learners spread according to their respective courses and levels. 

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION MODEL CLASSES of JUSTICE FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS is provided by UNITE the UNION via LifeLong Learning Project.

Justice for Domestic Workers Celebrates Learning
(an UMWEP- UNITE the UNION Lifelong Learning Project)
http://www.wea.org.uk
http://www.unitetheunion.org/growing-our-union/lifelonglearning/

On  the 26th of August, 2012 Sunday, marked the most awaited Celebration of Learning by the Justice for Domestic Workers. Around a hundred members  and supporters attended the event. Marissa Begonia, previous Chairperson now Coordinator of J4DW welcomed the guests and people from different communities and media groups, reminding them the important role of Education and Learning in the campaign and struggles of the the Migrant Domestic Workers here  in  the UK and worldwide.

"Providing migrant domestic workers with the education we need enables us to develop knowledge and skills and feel more confident in  fighting to  eradicate the  vulnerability and isolation of  migrant  workers i  society and  defending our rights both as individuals and as a union. Unite's UMWEP ( United Migrant Workers education Project) has shown us the way  that the education is there whenever we need it bringing this  course to us, we are one Big Family. We can't wait for the next one!"

Justice For Domestic Workers is a  self- help build  organisation of Muti-national migrant domestic workers mainly from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Morocco, Sri Lanka  and Nigeria. One of its objectives is to provide and armed mdws with education and  skills, know their rights and be updated with the laws that affect the community.

NOCN (National Open college Network) Certificates were given  to 18 learners for successfully completing a TUC(Trade  Union Congress) Introductory Union Reps course by  Marissa Begonia and  Jake Lagnado, WEA Union Reps  Tutor.The  Course was  adapted by  WEA in partnership with the  Justice for Domestic Workers and Unite the Union and was designed to ensure that it  meets the  needs of the vulnerable workers.

Jake Lagnado expressed  his heartfelt gratitude to be working with J4DW who despite of the vulnerability of their status, had greatly embraced the value of education and training  skills brought by the course. He pointed out that what the group learned  from  the course will contribute a big help to developing and supporting their members.

WEA TUC Course Coordinator, Monica Gort highlighted the significance of TUC courses in providing a learning  environment where learners can work collectively to share experiences and knowledge.

 J4DW Registration Monitoring and Evaluation

Poetry and Art Workshops

The celebration also  showcased various talents such as acoustic guitar play and song rendered by Realizza Otarra, self-written  poem delivered by Noani Mukromin, international dances from Indonesia, Nigeria and Morocco led by Khadija Najlaoui and Foulera Adams. It was  indeed a successful celebration of learning and learners!

(WEA Newsletter October 2012)

J4DW in Unite the Union Women's Week National Conference

Eastbourne, July 22-27, 2012

Education, Training, Speaking in Public are important knowledge and skills we have to learn so we gain confidence to speak, lobby and campaign for our rights as workers both national and international.

Marissa Begonia represents Leadership and Development delivers her speech for Women in Politics at Unite the Union Women's Week Conference July 27, 2012 Eastbourne Centre.

J4DW during our major rally to oppose the changes in Overseas Domestic Workers Visa last April 4, 2011 at House of Lords, Parliament which was a  return to slavery for migrant domestic workers. These changes take effect last April 6, 2012 where new incoming mdws can no longer have the right to change employer, and they could only stay in the UK for 6 months. J4DW opposed these changes and campaign for the restoration of the ODW VISA and the ratification of ILO C189, decent work for domestic workers.

J4DW provides one to one reading in UMWEP's calsses, this is through volunteer Tutor and members do help and support each other like in this photo a Filipino(right) is helping a fellow J4DW Indonesian in her reading. Sutipah has shown positive progress, she has been a speaker and emcee in J4DW's special events.

J4DW campaigns for the restoration of Overseas Domestic Worker visa and Ratification of the ILO C189, Domestic Workers Convention

The Philippines become 2nd Country to ratify the ILO C 189 on the right  of Domestic Workers which also means that  the international Convention law is now into force.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched for the alternative on 26 March 2011. We are now back to march for a future that works On Saturday 20 October 2012 Unite will be marching in London against the cuts and against the coalition.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched for the alternative on 26 March 2011. We are now back to march for a future that works

On Saturday 20 October 2012 Unite will be marching in London against the cuts and against the coalition.

J4DW's Workshop at  The Show Room

This is also in collaboration with Tate Modern and Unite the Union's UMWEP Project 

"Making  Domestic Work visible in British Society"

The workshop start at 11:30 and run until 2:30pm.

The activity will be a creative cardboard furniture building workshop that Andrea of the Show Room  lead and there is discussion around childcare and parenting with free refreshments.

Briefings and workshops at the Show Room.
Only by sharing our stories we are able to let everybody understands about the plight of domestic workers.  This is one major work of J4DW that we should be able to speak out to everybody and in public to raise awareness and campaign  to improve the living and working conditions  of domestic workers.

Exploring with Tutor Monica

Time to work, we need to make sure we have correct measurement!

We can handle this, simple numeracy of measurements, opps! the need to work together....yes, it's team work!

Enjoying while working and having fun with Tutor Steven

Look! what we've created....can you guess what is it? hmmnn...it's how you interpret our ART Work!

Our Finished Home Furnitures! Al smiles because we are happy with our work, it is strong that we can sit and use.

Can I bring home this chair please?

Relaxing at the Park while Tutor Monica is giving us last instructions for our Project that we need to do.
Thank You The Show Room for  the learning experience and skills in furniture making and ARTS you have shared with us...we have a moment of Sharing on how we share the work within the household  that allows  our employers to be able to do and achieve really high in their profession  and that we are part of the British Society that often invisible and such important contribution is not recognize and J4DW demands recognition by improving the working and living conditions of domestic workers and respect our dignity at work and in the British Society as a whole.

J4DW joins the One Billion Rising Workshop Campaign hosted by Stella Creasy,MP for Walthamstow

Look! Restore Overseas Domestic Worker Visa got the most points  as number one priority of  OBRUK campaign. DFID to properly fund UN Women- from £10m to £21m Per Annum or more for this campaign.

It's Rossana, Stella Creasy,MP of Walthamtow, Marissa and Andrew  at One Billion Rising Workshop in the UK

 
This campaign is designed to make tackling violence against women and girls a priority for everyone

Unite the Union's Strategy for growth

Lheta attending the UMWEP's Summer School with Unite the Union at Faraday House

Saroj lends a helping hand to a fellow learner at Summer School  Class

Wrapping Up the session.

Unite's Olympics for Gold!

J4DW with the V-DAY Warriors during the Filming of One Billion Uprising Commercial campaign  to stop Violence against women and girls.

Unite the Union Women's Week National Conference,
                                                                        
  Eastbourne Centre, July 22-27, 2012

Diana Holland, Asst.General Secretary of Unite the Union at the opening of the National Women's Week Conference, women's Equality at the heart of the Union.

Participants from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and USA, Women's Steel Workers Union 

It never easy to be in the wider world where no one knows about the issue of Domestic Workers, we all need to work hard to win our course mates first so we get their support and do something to help us  campaign with us. Here we are preparing our speech.

Already by asking a direct question Nuraeni received a standing ovation, how much more if she delivers her speech?. Her question to Baroness Glenies Thornton, MP- Shadow Minister for Equality, "The ConDem Government removed the basic rights and protections of domestic Workers, Has labour Party maintained its position in support of the old Overseas domestic worker visa?", The Baroness responded," Yes, Labour Party hasn't changed its position in support of the ODW Visa".

Marissa delivers her speech for the Leadership and Development Group, Women in Politics -  against new legislation for oversees Domestic workers visa in women's week course during speech session in Eastborne centre, UK

Nuraeni and Noani are relaxing at the balcony seaside view from their room in Eastbourne Centre.

It's Party Time for the Particiants

Launch of ESOL Nexus Project with British Council,    
                                                                    
 June 17, 2012 at Kingway Hotel, Holborn

This ESOL Film will be available on DVD and On Line

Carlos Cruz talks about the importance of English  education that Unite the Union is delivering to members  and Migrant Workers. The informal education that UMWEP's has successfully delivered and that it is there when they needed especially the migrant workers who are specially vulnerable and couldn't access the college education.
This is the  part 1 of the film please watch!

Marissa Begonia says, "Integration begins the moment we start to care".
This is Part 2 of the Film, please watch!

Rupika receives her gift from Michelle of British Council for participating in the Film  together with fellow J4DWs who have participation also.
This is Part 3 of the Film, please watch!

Noani dedicates her song, "The Power of Love", saying because of the education and support from her J4DW she is able to improve build confidence that helps her through to survive.
This is Part 4 of the Film, please watch!

And Look! All is beautiful, encouraging domestic workers that they do need to look after themselves while looking after their families, spend sometime to treat themselves and learn to socialize because they deserve to have a time of their own. This is Part 5 of the Film, Pleas watch!

This maybe a launch of the ESOL Project but we would also like to remind that we are here also to call fro public support and remind the UK Government the need to ratify the ILO, C189.
This is the Part 6 of the Film, Please watch!
On Line Lessons of this British Council ESOL Nexus Project  will be available on September, 2012. This is available in the UK and worldwide!